Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, continued his impressive run of form with the opening goal in a final-day draw against Crystal Palace.
With Forest having secured their Premier League status the previous weekend and Palace already safe from relegation, there was a celebratory atmosphere at Selhurst Park before the match kicked off.
Awoniyi lifted the spirits of the traveling fans when he latched onto Morgan Gibbs-White’s exceptional through ball, showcasing his skill as he twisted and turned before slotting the ball into the bottom corner in the 31st minute. His goal came just a minute after Eberechi Eze’s close-range effort was blocked on the goal line by his own teammate, Jordan Ayew.
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Palace dominated much of the second half and eventually found the equalizer in the 66th minute when Will Hughes headed in a cross from Michael Olise. Despite both teams’ efforts, neither side could find a winner. With the season now concluded, both Forest and Palace can begin planning for the upcoming season, although it remains uncertain whether Roy Hodgson will remain as Palace’s manager.
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Having secured their safety by defeating Arsenal in their previous match, Forest fans were understandably in a celebratory mood. Some supporters even wore masks bearing the face of manager Steve Cooper, who guided the team to promotion and maintained their Premier League status.
In recent weeks, Awoniyi’s goals have been vital for Forest. The 25-year-old striker has scored six goals in his last four games, becoming the first Forest player since Stan Collymore in 1995 to score in four consecutive Premier League matches.
His goal against Palace also marked his 10th of the season, and both he and Forest will be hopeful for more goal-scoring success in the upcoming season.
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